The Usefulness of Emptiness
On August 22, 2011
During the past few weeks, I find myself having to explain the notion of emptiness or selflessness on quite a few occasions and I wonder how to present it in a way that conveys some experiences of what it means to be empty.
How can I show that emptiness is not an abstract idea reserved [...]
A Snapshot of Special Insight: The Parent
On June 8, 2011
According to the teachings of the Prasangika Madhyamika school of Buddhist philosophy, our most persistent and fundamental mistake is grasping at an inherently, independently existent essence within persons and things, when they are utterly empty of such fantasized ways of existing. It is good to get a sense of why this is problematic, right at [...]
Dependent Origination — A House of Cards
On March 3, 2011
What can we learn about dependent origination from a house of cards? Well, most of us would be able to figure out that a house of cards is clearly dependent on the individual cards, arranged and stacked in a specific way.
The important question to ponder is: how does this house of cards itself [...]
A Snapshot of Special Insight – Our Deepest Nature
On February 16, 2011
What is the deepest nature of things, including ourselves? There are many ways of understanding this word. Nature could refer to the fundamental qualities of a person or thing; its identity or essential character. We also use nature to refer to the disposition or character of a person or thing. We may say that someone [...]
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